Syms Shows Off Program That Helps Students Be A Success

HAMPTON — In one short sentence, eighth-grader Leslie Eubank summed up what kind of student she was when she began middle school.

"I was very unorganized," the 14-year-old girl said.

Andrew Simms, a sixth-grader, said he didn't get as many good grades in fifth grade as he does now.

What made the difference was their participation in the AVID program at Syms Middle School, both students told a group of visiting Charlottesville school officials on Thursday.

The national program prepares and motivates average students for success in school and college.

"I thought AVID was for kids that didn't have a chance," Leslie told the visitors. She soon realized the program was helping her pull up her grades and become more organized with schoolwork.

The same happened with Andrew. The two students made the honor roll this year.

AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. This school year, Syms Middle School became a national demonstration site for AVID, making it one of two such schools in Virginia that showcase the program for interested schools districts like Charlottesville's. The other demonstration school is Hines Middle School in Newport News.

"It is really an honor," said Diane Lutz, AVID site team coordinator for Syms. "There are not many demonstration sites."

Since 1997, Hampton City Schools began adding the program at its middle and high schools. Now four out of six of the city's middle schools and all four high schools have the program up to the 10th grade. Nearly 900 students are enrolled in AVID in Hampton. Next year, Hampton will spend $15,000 to include 11th- graders in the program.

Hampton and Newport News are leaders in the state when it comes to AVID. Across Virginia, about 30 schools have AVID programs, according to the national AVID center in California. More than half of those are in Newport News and Hampton.

"I can see the pride the teachers and students take in the program," said Marty Bass, coordinator of instruction for Charlottesville public schools.

"The kids have been great. The teachers have been great," he said.

At AVID's core: teaching students how to organize their papers and take useful notes.

Twice weekly tutorials give students individual attention, said Pat Silvis, sixth-grade AVID science teacher. The school pays tutors who are college students, retired teachers and other professionals.

AVID also sponsors field trips so students can visit local college campuses and get a sense of what college life is about.

The school district's investment in AVID has paid off in improving test scores on the state's Standards of Learning. Hampton's AVID eighth-graders scored higher than non-AVID students in last year's round of SOL tests, said Cindy Reasoner, AVID program coordinator for Hampton.

Improving the scores is important, but it's not all the district seeks to accomplish, Lutz said.

"It's the kids' successes that keep us doing this," Lutz said. "The reward is working and seeing some of the students sitting here talking with the visiting school district. Those were the students who at one time were petrified to stand in front of the class."

Miriam Stawowy can be reached at 247-7854 or by e-mail at mstawowy@dailypress.com